Portable screen



H. L. MILLER. I PORTABLE SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1918.

Patented Decv2l, 1920.

[NVEN TOR A TTORNE Y V, ///d v WITNESS.

H. L. MILLER.

PORTABLE SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2. 1918.

m mm 7 m m 7 8 1 3 6 1 INVENTOR.

ffia A 'TTORNE Y UNITE s'rn'rs A'iENT OFFICE.

HARVEY L. MILLER, 0F LEAVENW'ORTH, KANSASJ, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES W. PARKER, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

PORTABLE SCREEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application filed September 12, 1918. Serial No. 253,680.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, HARVEY L. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented a cer-' tain new and useful improvement in Portable Screens, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in portable screens, of the type composed of frames hinged together so as to be swung to different positions.

The object of my inyention is the provision of a screen which may be arranged in different forms for different purposes, and which is composed of duplicate frames which are adapted for vu'tical adjustment relatively to each other to accommodate the screen for uneven ground or floors, and which may be readily disassembled and piledcompactly for storage purposes or'for shipping.

My invention is particularly well adapted for use in tents or in rooms having low ceilings, the construction permitting the ready assembling and disassembling of the difl'ee ent frames without interference by the ceiling or roof of the tent 111 which the screen is to be used.

My invention provides further a novel pintle for detachably connecting the hinge members of difierent frames, and which can be readily detached without interference by the roof or the ceiling.

My invention provides further duplicate screen frames, each having in its opposite longitudinal edges hinge members located wholly between the planes of the sides of the frame, whereby the frames: may be slid when piled flatwise one upon the other without the hinge members of one frame contacting with the adjacent frame, thus avoiding liability of the hinge members becoming detached from or mutilating theframes.

My invention provides still further novel hinging means by which a number more than two of screen frames may be detachably connected at one set of edges so as to formthe corners of different compartments.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully'd escribed and claimed,

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line.

33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. d is a reduced elevation of a plurality of my improved screen frames arranged in pile ready for shipment or storage.

Fig. is a perspective view of four of my improvell frames, hinged together to form the corners of four different compartments.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of portions of two of my improved screen frames, and a portion of the pintle which connects them, the frames and pintle being shown in the positions occupied by them when the pintle is to be detached from the upper screw eyes, when the frames are in an environment which will not permit the pintle to be withdrawn upwardly to a position of detachment from the upper screw eye.

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing two of the frames connected together by two pintles.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

My improved screen is composed, preferably, of duplicate rectangular frames 1, which are hinged detachaol together at their adjacent longitudinal ed ges by hinged connections which permit the frame 1 to be vertically adjusted relatively to each other, in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

Opposite longitudinal edges of each frame 1 have attached to them hinge members, preferably screw eyes :2, having therethrough longitudinal holes adapted to have removably mounted therein a connecting pintle consisting of a strai at its upper end supporting means consisting, preferably, of a lateral arm 4,'wh,ich is adapted to be supported on the upper screw eye 2, when the pintle 3 is in the vertical operative position, and which is adapted to be passed upwardly or downwardly through the two uppermost screw eyes 2, when the frames 1 are adjusted vertically to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which poght 1'(){ 3 having 7 sition the screw eyes are close together, and when the pintle 3 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 6.

The screw eyes 2 are preferably located wholly between the planes of the sides of the frame to which they are attached. This construction permits the frames 1, when detached from each other, to be piled in compact form, as shown in Fig. 4, without the screw eyes of one frame contacting with the frame next adjacent, thus permitting the frames to be slid one upon the other without danger of being scratched by the screw eyes of the adjacent frames, and without liability of such shifting of'the frames, causing the screw eyes to he accidentally loosened or detached.

The screw eyes 2 in opposite edges of a frame are preferably so located that the frames may be reversed end for end, when assembled, to form a screen. The number of screw eyes 2 attached to each frame may be varied to correspond with the height of the frame, but in any event, there should be at least two screw eyes attached to each lon gitudinal edge of each frame. The pintle 3 will thus hold the frames with their adjacent edges parallel with each other.

if desired, a single pintle 3 may be employed to connect together two or more frames 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, or, as shown in Fig. 7, two short pintles 3 may be employed to connect each frame with those immediately adjacent thereto. When two short pintles are employed, as shown in Fig. 7, each longitudinal edge of each frame is preferably provided with two pairs of screw eyes, 2, located respectively adjacent to opposite ends of the frame, one pair being located nearer to the end of the frame than the other pair; this relative position in opposite edges of the frame being reversed,

whereby the different frames maybe readily connected with the each other and can have the needed vertical adjustment.

In connecting the frames together, where the roof or ceiling is of sufficient height, or where the screens are used out of doors, the pintles 3 may be inserted by being passed vertically downwardly throu h the screw eyes 2 of adjacent frames. fiwing to the vertical adjustability of the frames relative to each other, they may be effectively used onuneven ground or on sloping ground.

If the roof or ceiling of the tent or room in which the screen is to be erected is too low to permit the pintle being inserted into or removed from the screw eyes while in the vertical position, the frames 1 may be adpintle at the time being held in the predetermined position shown in Fig. 6. After the arm d has been passed through the two upper eyes 2, it is swung to the horizontal position, the body of the pintle being then in the vertical position. The pintle in this position is lifted in the upper eyes 2 to a position in which the lower end of the pintle can enter the screw eyes below. The pintle is then moved downwardly to the operative position shown in Fig. 1.

To remove the pintle when the frames are to be disassembled, the operation just de-. scribed is reversed.

The frames 1 when connected with each other may be swung laterally to any desired positions, as well as being vertically disposed in any desired position within the range of adjustability of the frames.

My improved screens are adapted for a variety of'uses, such as partitions, for representing walls of houses in moving pictures, and for the formation of compartments for different purposes.

The frames being duplicates may be kept in stool: and sent to different places of use in such quantities asmay be needed for the particular purpose in view. In case that any of the screw eyes become bentor (letached in transportation, they may be readily replaced by an unskilled person.

. By the use of the screw eyes located in the edges of the frame as described, more than two frames may be connected togetherto form several compartment corners, as-shown in Fig. 5. I am not aware of any other hinge connection that will permit of this arrangement of the frames, the usual hinge connection permittlng of the hinglng together of two frames on one pintle.

onl 1 do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. What I claim is A screen comprising two frames having two parallel edges, and each being longitudinally adjustable relatively to the other,

two hinge members attached respectively to said edges and having each a longitudinal hole therethrough, and a pintle extending through and removable from said holes and having supporting means at its upper end which, when the pintle is in the operative position, will be supported by the upper hinge member, and which when the pintle is moved to a predetermined position, andthe frames have been longitudinally adjusted to a predetermined position, can be passed through said holes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. i

HARVEY L. MILLER. 

